Adjustable stops for drawer slides

ABSTRACT

Adjustable stop devices for limiting closing movement of slides for drawers and the like. Drawer slides have two or more members longitudinally slidable relative to each other, with one of the members secured to a part of a desk, cabinet, or the like, adjacent the opening and space for a drawer. Another of the members is secured to the drawer and, with slides at both sides of the drawer, the latter may be slidably pulled or pushed in the drawer opening. Such drawers include a front member or panel and the adjustable stop comprises a noise damping cylindrical member eccentrically mounted adjacent the front end of ths slide member of each slide attached to each side of the drawer. The stop member is in the path of a part of the other slide member and is adapted to be struck by the roller at the front end of said other slide member when the drawer is pushed to its innermost position. By loosening the attaching screw on which the stop member is disposed, the latter may be rotated to adjust the point of contact of the stop member with said roller of said slide member. By thus adjusting the cylindrical, eccentrically mounted stop member, the telescoping of the slide members can be stopped at a point whereat the front panel of the drawer will not strike any part of the desk or cabinet, thereby eliminating or minimizing noise and preventing damage to either the front panel of the drawer or adjacent portions of the desk or cabinet when the drawer is closed.

United States Patent [191 Barber, Jr. 9

[ 1 July 17, 1973 1 1 ADJUSTABLE STOPS FOR DRAWER SLIDES Lloyd L.Barber, Jr., Santa Ana, Calif.

[22] Filed: Mar. 22, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 126,474

[75] lnventor:

[52] US. Cl. 312/348, 312/341 NR [51 A47p 88/00 [58] Field of Search312/348, 341 NR; 248/345.l; 16/82 [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 3,462,203 8/1969 Del Vecchio 312/348 X 1,207,786 12/1916 O1ree312/348 2,606,091 8/1952 Buchy et a1. 312/341 NR 3,089,276 5/1963 Brooksl 248/345.l

1,704,964 3/1929 Dilg 312/348 X 1,770,546 7/1930 Olsen 312/348 3,099,5017/1963 Hillson et al 312/348 Primary Examiner-James T. McCallAttorney-J. Carroll Baisch [57] ABSTRACT Adjustable stop devices forlimiting closing movement of slides for drawers and the like. Drawerslides have two or more members longitudinally slidable relative to eachother, with one of the members secured to a part ofa desk, cabinet, orthe like, adjacent the opening and space for a drawer. Another of themembers is secured to the drawer and, with slides at both sides of thedrawer, the latter may be slidably pulled or pushed in the draweropening. Such drawers include a front member or panel and the adjustablestop comprises a noise damping cylindrical member eccentrically mountedadjacent the front end of ths slide member of each slide attached toeach side of the drawer. The stop member is in the path of a part of theother slide member and is adapted to be struck by the roller at thefront end of said other slide member when the drawer is pushed to itsinnermost position. By loosening the attaching screw on which the stopmember is disposed, the latter may be rotated to adjust the point ofcontact of the stop member with said roller of said slide member. Bythus adjusting the cylindrical, eccentrically mounted stop member, thetelescoping of the slide members can be stopped at a point whereat thefront panel of the drawer will not strike any part of the desk orcabinet, thereby eliminating or minimizing noise and preventing I damageto either the front panel of the drawer or adjacent portions of the deskor cabinet when the drawer is closed.

8 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures ADJUSTABLE STOPS FOR DRAWER SLIDESBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The drawers formany desks or cabinets have slides at the sides thereof to reducefriction of the drawers when pulled outwardly or pushed inwardly of thedrawer opening. When such drawers are pushed to the innermost position,there is a thud or thump due to the front panel of the drawer strikingadjacent portions of the desk or cabinet, or striking the front end ofthe slide member.

2. Summary of the Invention The invention comprises stop means on one ofthe sliding members or drawer slides having a plurality of slide membersthat are telescopically slidable longitudinally relative to each other.The stop means limits closing movement of drawers carried by suchslides, for preventing the front face of the drawer from hitting thecabinet or front end of the slide. By having the stop means adjustable,it is possible to regulate where the drawer will stop so as to preventthe front face of the drawer from hitting the cabinet or front end ofone of the slide members.

In reference to the slide members, it is to be understood that, as usedherein, the term slide member includes the parts that are attached orsecured to the telescoping members.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object ofthe invention to provide stop means for limiting inward movement of thedrawer.

Another object of the invention is to provide stop means of thischaracter which may be adjusted for individual drawers so that the frontface or panel of the drawer will be prevented from hitting the cabinetor front end of the slide.

It is still another object of the invention toprovide means of thischaracter which will eliminate the thud or thump that would otherwiseoccur when the drawer is fully closed.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention are furthersufficiently referred to in connection with the accompanying drawings,which represent one embodiment. After considering this example, skilledpersons will understand that variations may be made without departingfrom the principles disclosed and I contemplate the employment of anystructures, arrangements or modes of operation that are properly withinthe scope of the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to the drawings, which arefor illustrative purposes only:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a portion of a desk, showing a partlyopened drawer and a slide embodying the invention on the facing side;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view with portions broken away to show theadjustable stop of the present invention, showing its position when thedrawer is closed;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but showing the adjustable stop in adifferent position than that of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the adjustable stop shown inFIGS. 1 to 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of an alternative arrangement;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged side-elevational view of an alternativearrangement;

FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a side-elevational view of another alternative arrangementwith the adjustable stop engaged by a part of a slide member when theslide members are telescoped;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken on line l2l2 of FIG. 11; and

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 11, but showing the slide memberspartly extended.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. I, there isshown a desk, indicated generally at 20, having a drawer opening 22 inwhich is slidably disposed a drawer, indicated generally at 24. Thedrawer is slidably supported by drawer slides, indicated generally at26, therebeing a drawer slide at each side of the drawer.

The drawer slides 26 are of the type having at least a pair oftelescoping slide members 28 and 30.

Slide member 28 is secured to parts of the desk adjacent the draweropening by any suitable well-known means, such as, for example, screws(not shown).

The slide member 30 is secured to side wall 32. The side wall 34 of thedrawer also has attached to it a slide member 30, with a slide member 28attached to the desk part at the sides of the drawer opening.

While the present invention may be used with various types of slides,the slide disclosed herein has a roller 38 operably mounted on a pin 40secured to the upper part ofthe outer slide member 28,. there being asimilar roller at the inner, or rear end, and at the bottom of the slidemember 30, the latter roller not being shown in FIGS. 1 to 6. The slidemember 30 has an outwardly turned flange 44 which rides on the roller38, while the outer slide member 28 has an intumed flange 46 extendingalong the longitudinal center of said slide member 28, and flange 46rides on the rear. roller on the slide member 30. Thus, the drawer isoperably supported by the slides at the sides thereof.

The drawer has a front face or panel 48 which, when the drawer is at itsinnermost position, should have its front base flush with the adjacentpart of the desk. However, the inner side of the panel 48 should notstrike adjacent parts of the desk nor the adjacent end of the slidemembers 28. In order to prevent this from occurring, applicant hasprovided adjustable stop means so that inward movement of the drawerswill be stopped at exactly the right position, whereat the outer side ofthe drawer panel 48 will be flush with the adjacent portions of the deskand the inner side of the drawer will be prevented from striking certainparts of the desk, such as the parts 50, or the adjacent ends of theslide members 28.

Because of manufacturing variations, applicant has provided adjustablestop means so that each drawer will be stopped at exactly the rightposition.

The adjustable stop means of the arrangement of FIGS. 1 to 6 comprises around or cylindrical shaped eccentric stop having alongitudinally-extending bore 56 therethrough which is offset from theaxis of the stop. This eccentric stop is secured to the slide member 30adjacent the forward end thereof and somewhat below the axis of theroller 38, a screw 58 being used to secure the eccentric stop 54 on theslide member 30 and also secure said eccentric stop in adjustedpositions.

In order to adjust the stop 54, the screw 58 is loosened and theeccentric stop member 54 rotated on said screw to thereby vary theamount of material between the screw 58 and the roller 38 when the slidemembers are fully telescoped and the drawer is in its innermostposition. After the eccentric stop inember is adjusted, the screw 58 istightened to maintain said stop member in its adjusted position.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, there is shown an alternative adjustabiestop means which comprises a lever 60 attached to the slide member 30adjacent the front end thereof by means of a rivet or pin 62. Othersuitable attaching means may be used, such as a screw, for example.

Lever 60 has a laterally turned flange 64 adjacent the upper end thereofand at the inner side of said lever, said flange 64 being in the path ofthe roller 38 so that when the slide members are telescoped the roller38 will strike the flange 64 of the stop means and thereby limittelescoping of the slide member for positioning the front panel of thedrawer in the manner described here and above.

The stop means 60 is adjustable to vary the position of the flange 64relative to the roller 38 and this is effected by providing a screw 66threaded into a tapped opening provided therefor in the slide member 30adjacent the bottom thereof. An arcuate slot 68 is provided in the lowerend of the lever or stop means 60 and the screw 66 is disposed in saidslot. By loosening the screw, the lever 60 may be rotated on its pivot62 and when the proper adjustment has been made the screw 66 istightened.

A sound and vibration damping element may be attached to the flange 64,said element having a slot 72 therein whereby the element may be slippedonto the flange 64. The side or part of the element 70 adjacent theroller 38 is struck by said roller when the drawer is pushed to itsinnermost position.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, there is shown another alternativearrangement. In this arrangement, the adjustable stop means comprises avertically arranged, slidable plate 76 having a longitudinally-extendingslot 78 therein and said plate has a laterally turned flange 80 at itsupper end, the inner face of said flange being at an acute anglerelative to the inner edge 82 of said plate.

Slide member 30 has an ear, indicated at 84, struck or cut therefrom andthere is a part 86 thereof that is parallel to the slide member 30 butis spaced from the plane of said slide member 30 by a portion 88 at theinner end of 'the part 86. The spacing of the part 86 from the plane ofthe slide member 30 is slightly greater than the thickness of the plate76 which has its outer part 90 disposed under the part 86. A screw 92 isreceived in the slot 78 and is screwed into a tapped opening 94 providedtherefor in the slide member 30. A

sound and vibration damping element may be disposed on the flange 80.

In order to adjust the slidable stop means or plate 76, the screw 92 isloosened and said plate is moved upwardly or downwardly to vary theposition at which the roller 38 will engage the inner part of theelement 70. When the plate is suitably adjusted the screw 92 istightened.

Referring to FIGS. l1, l2 and 13, there is shown another alternativeadjustable stop device or means. This stop means comprises a horizontalplate, indicated generally at 1 00, and has a laterally turned flange102 at the top of the body portion 104 of the plate 100, said flangebeing turned inwardly and being normal to the body 104. The body 104 hasa plurality of slots 106 and 108, respectively, for reception of screws110 threaded into tapped openings provided therefor in the slide member28. There is an element disposed on the flange 102 to provide aresilient sound and vibration damping bumper. The flange 102 with theelement 70 thereon is above the top longitudinal edge of the slidemember 28 and is in the path of a slightly upturned end portion 114 atthe rear of the flange 44 of the slide member 30.

The plate is adjustable longitudinally relative to the slide members,adjustment being made by first loosening the screws and moving the platelongitudinally to the correct position for preventing the front panel ofthe drawer from striking the adjacent portions of the desk and/or thefront end of the slide member 28. When the adjustable plate of stopmember 100 is correctly positioned, the screws 110 are tightened toretain said plate in adjusted position.

The element 70 may be of any suitable material such as a plastic. The B.F. Goodrich Co. Geon vinyl No. 8815 may be used, or any other suitableplastic having vibration and sound damping characteristics.

The invention and its attendant advantages will be understood from theforegoing description and it will be apparent that various changes maybe made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts of theinvention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof orsacrificing its material advantages, the arrangement hereinbeforedescribed being merely by way of example, and I do not wish to berestricted to the specific forms shown or uses mentioned, except asdefined by the accompanying claims.

I claim:

I. Adjustable stop means for slides for drawers and the like, saidslides having a plurality of slide members telescopically connectedtogether for longitudinal extension and telescopic movement, one of theslide members including a laterally turned flange, the'other slidemember having roller means including a front roller rotatably mountedthereto adjacent the forward end thereof, said laterally turned flangeriding on the roller means, said adjustable stop means beingcharacterized by:

A. an adjustable stop member for the slide member having a flange, saidadjustable stop member being cylindrical with an off-set bore extendinglongitudinally therethrough, said cylindrical stop member being ofresilient, sound damping material;

B. and securing means for securing said adjustable stop member to saidslide member having the flange and in a position whereat said adjustablestop member comes into engagement with the front roller when said slidemembers are telescoped to thereby limit telescoping of said slidemembers;

C. said securing means comprising a screw in the bore of the cylindricalstop member and in a tapped hole provided therefore in the slide memberhaving the flange, said screw being adapted to be loosened to permitrotatable adjustment of said adjustable stop member relative to saidfront roller to vary the telescoped relation of said slide members toeach other according to the adjusted position of said adjustable stopmember;

D. said screw being adapted to be tightened to retain said adjustablestop member in adjusted position.

2. The invention defined by claim 1, wherein the round adjustable stopmember is cylindrical and is of resilient, sound damping material, andwherein the securing means comprises a screw disposed in a tapped boreprovided therefor in said one of said slide members.

3. Adjustable stop means for slides for drawers and the like, saidslides having a plurality of slide members telescopically connectedtogether for longitudinal extension and telescopic movement, saidadjustable stop means being characterized by:

A. an adjustable stop member for one of said slide members, theadjustable stop member comprising a lever pivoted intermediate its endsand having a part for engagement with the part of the other slidemember, said lever having an arcuate slot adjacent one end;

B. and securing means for securing said adjustable stop member to saidone slide member in a position whereat a part of the other slide memberand said adjustable stop member come into engagement with each otherwhen said slide members are telescoped to thereby limit telescoping ofsaid slide members;

C. said securing means being adapted to be loosened to permit adjustmentof said adjustable stop memjustment of said lever, and tightened toretain the lever in adjusted positions.

4. The invention defined by claim 3, wherein said lever has a flangethereon and a resilient, sound damping element on said flange forengagement with said part of the other slide member.

5. Adjustable stop means for slides for drawers and the like, saidslides having a plurality of slide members telescopically connectedtogether for longitudinal extension and telescopic movement, saidadjustable stop means being characterized by:

A. an adjustable stop member for one of said slide members, theadjustable stop member a longitudinally-extending slot therein, saidplate having an angularly arranged flange aligned with said part of theother slide member, various parts of said flange being variouslypositioned to vary the telescoped relationship of the slide members, anda guide disposed in said slot;

B. and securing means for securing said adjustable stop member to saidone slide member in a position whereat a part of the other slide memberand said adjustable stop member come into engagement with each otherwhen said slide members are telescoped to thereby limit telescoping ofsaid slide members; saidsecuring means being disposed in the slot andadapted to be tightened and loosened;

C. said securing means being adapted to be loosened to permit adjustmentof said adjustable stop member relative to said part of the other slidemember to vary the telescoped relation of said slide membersto eachother according to the adjusted position of said adjustable stopmember;-

D. said securing means being adapted to be tightened to retain saidadjustable stop member in adjusted position.

6. The invention defined by claim 5, wherein a, resilient vibration andsound damping element is disposed on said flange.

7. The invention defined by claim 1, wherein the adjustable stop membercomprises a horizontally movable plate having a part aligned with saidpart of said one slide member. i

8. The invention defined by claim 7, wherein said plate has a laterallyturned flange thereon aligned with said part of said other slide member,and a sound and vibration damping element on said flange.

1. Adjustable stop means for slides for drawers and the like, saidslides having a plurality of slide members telescopically connectedtogether for longitudinal extension and telescopic movement, one of theslide members including a laterally turned flange, the other slidemember having roller means including a front roller rotatably mountedthereto adjacent the forward end thereof, said laterally turned flangeriding on the roller means, said adjustable stop means beingcharacterized by: A. an adjustable stop member for the slide memberhaving a flange, said adjustable stop member being cylindrical with anoff-set bore extending longitudinally therethrough, said cylindricalstop member being of resilient, sound damping material; B. and securingmeans for securing said adjustable stop member to said slide memberhaving the flange and in a position whereat said adjustable stop membercomes into engagement with the front roller when said slide members aretelescoped to thereby limit telescoping of said slide members; C. saidsecuring means comprising a screw in the bore of the cylindrical stopmember and in a tapped hole provided therefore in the slide memberhaving the flange, said screw being adapted to be loosened to permitrotatable adjustment of said adjustable stop member relative to saidfront roller to vary the telescoped relation of said slide members toeach other according to the adjusted position of said adjustable stopmember; D. said screw being adapted to be tightened to retain saidadjustable stop member in adjusted position.
 2. The invention defined byclaim 1, wherein the round adjustable stop member is cylindrical and isof resilient, sound damping material, and wherein the securing meanscomprises a screw disposed in a tapped bore provided therefor in saidone of said slide members.
 3. Adjustable stop means for slides fordrawers and the like, said slides having a plurality of slide memberstelescopically connected together For longitudinal extension andtelescopic movement, said adjustable stop means being characterized by:A. an adjustable stop member for one of said slide members, theadjustable stop member comprising a lever pivoted intermediate its endsand having a part for engagement with the part of the other slidemember, said lever having an arcuate slot adjacent one end; B. andsecuring means for securing said adjustable stop member to said oneslide member in a position whereat a part of the other slide member andsaid adjustable stop member come into engagement with each other whensaid slide members are telescoped to thereby limit telescoping of saidslide members; C. said securing means being adapted to be loosened topermit adjustment of said adjustable stop member relative to said partof the other slide member to vary the telescoped relation of said slidemembers to each other according to the adjusted position of saidadjustable stop members; D. said securing means being adapted to betightened to retain said adjustable stop member in adjusted position; E.and the securing means includes means disposed in the slot and adaptedto be loosened to permit adjustment of said lever, and tightened toretain the lever in adjusted positions.
 4. The invention defined byclaim 3, wherein said lever has a flange thereon and a resilient, sounddamping element on said flange for engagement with said part of theother slide member.
 5. Adjustable stop means for slides for drawers andthe like, said slides having a plurality of slide members telescopicallyconnected together for longitudinal extension and telescopic movement,said adjustable stop means being characterized by: A. an adjustable stopmember for one of said slide members, the adjustable stop member alongitudinally-extending slot therein, said plate having an angularlyarranged flange aligned with said part of the other slide member,various parts of said flange being variously positioned to vary thetelescoped relationship of the slide members, and a guide disposed insaid slot; B. and securing means for securing said adjustable stopmember to said one slide member in a position whereat a part of theother slide member and said adjustable stop member come into engagementwith each other when said slide members are telescoped to thereby limittelescoping of said slide members; said securing means being disposed inthe slot and adapted to be tightened and loosened; C. said securingmeans being adapted to be loosened to permit adjustment of saidadjustable stop member relative to said part of the other slide memberto vary the telescoped relation of said slide members to each otheraccording to the adjusted position of said adjustable stop member; D.said securing means being adapted to be tightened to retain saidadjustable stop member in adjusted position.
 6. The invention defined byclaim 5, wherein a resilient vibration and sound damping element isdisposed on said flange.
 7. The invention defined by claim 1, whereinthe adjustable stop member comprises a horizontally movable plate havinga part aligned with said part of said one slide member.
 8. The inventiondefined by claim 7, wherein said plate has a laterally turned flangethereon aligned with said part of said other slide member, and a soundand vibration damping element on said flange.